The Neighbourhood Support organisation has moved swiftly to enhance its advice to rural people on what to do when faced with intruders.

National Development Co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Support New Zealand, Yvonne Palmer, said various comments in the news media around the Bentley home invasion case could be confusing to people as to the proper course of action.

"Our advice is clearly that if you are facing a violent intruder and you have the opportunity to make a phone call then clearly that phone call should be to the Police. "

Ms Palmer said that Neighbourhood Support had also moved to put a new fact sheet on the organisation's website relating to Citizen's Arrest and Self-defence.

"There is a great deal of debate at present in the community and particularly rural communities about just how far people should go to protect their own properties and ensure the safety of their neighbours.

"This new fact sheet that went live this morning succinctly sets out the legal situation as it currently applies. It provides easy to understand and highly useful information about safety, assisting the police, giving good descriptions and self defence," said Ms Palmer.

The advice Neighbourhood Support gives is to take a safety first approach in relation to intruders or when rural people suspect something might be going on and they need to go out to have a look, whether this is at night time or during the day.

The following information is contained in the new fact sheet on the Neighbourhood Support Internet site www.ns.org.nz

"Your first concern should always be your own safety and that of others with you. Never take the law in to your own hands or take unnecessary risks. If there are intruders on your property, call the police. It is a Police job and they are trained to deal with trespassers and other criminals. Incidents can quickly get out of hand.

If living on a farm and leaving the house to investigate something untoward, first ensure that someone knows where you are going, as much as possible about what you are checking, and how long you expect it will take. This could involve phoning the police or your neighbour, waiting for a neighbour to join you, and taking a mobile phone or handheld radio with you. Ensure the phone or radio is charged and working."

Always err on the side of caution. Property can be replaced. Call the police if there is an intruder, call your neighbours when you are not sure, and only act if you have to defend yourself or others in which event you are justified in using whatever force you believe is reasonable in the circumstances to overcome the threat faced. It is not an excuse to use force. You may have to explain your justification later to a criminal court.

Neighbourhood Support members are not vigilantes. They are a cross-section of society taking an active role in preventing crime happening to themselves, their families and friends. There is no one answer to any particular problem situation. Each situation is unique and has to be dealt with on its merits consistent with safety.

To find your nearest Neighbourhood Support contact person, check the Internet site www.ns.org.nz or phone 0800 4NEIGHBOURS (0800 463 444).

Yvonne Palmer
National Development Co-ordinator
Neighbourhood Support New Zealand
Email Yvonne.Palmer@iag.co.nz
Phone 03 341 6748 or 027 229 5049